Seven Steps to Creating a Productive Project Based Environment

The S.E.E.D.S. curriculum is based on the perspective that education should be community-based and focused on student centered learning. In order to create this type of curriculum S.E.E.D.S. utilizes project based learning activities. Project based learning has come to the forefront of the education debate, becoming a “new” form of education. Yet, contrary to this perspective, for some of us, project based learning has been utilized for over two decades. Though many see just the positives or negatives of project based learning few realize that both exist and both are based on how the teacher (parent or educator) presents the project and the associated information. At S.E.E.D.S. we understand the importance of full teacher and students engagement so we believe for project based learning to be successful teachers and the curriculum must:

1. Create the Link

In order to create a project from which the children will have long term learning through full comprehension, teachers must create the link between the information that needs to be taught and the desire the students have to learn the information. Most teachers forget (or fail to realize) students drive the learning process. Once a teacher (parent or educator) understand this, they also understand that it is essential to get the students input and participation from the very first step. Topic Selection. This creates a connection between the desire to learn and the content (what needs to be learned) based on the students’ natural curiosity. Project based learning makes the vital connection between knowledge and skills.  Working on a project is definitely active and interactive learning rather than passive. This is fantastic for educators and students alike. When you allow the link to be created through a mutual desire to learn or teach a topic, than both the teacher and the students have created a link, through a student centered learning environment.

2. Lead Out

The word education is derived from the Latin words “ex” and “ducere” meaning “to lead out.”  In a traditional classroom, the teacher teaches a lesson, talking about a topic for 20-30 minutes while the children sit quietly and listen. Once the teacher is done with the lecture, the children are given a quiet activity to complete individually or in small groups. This is where the real learning occurs- through the interaction and the conversation. Or so we think.  I don’t know about you, but this doesn’t sound like a lot of learning or education is going on. The traditional class described above is more an act of “pouring in”. 

For project based learning to be successful it has to lead out. The learning must occur though inquires, comments, introspection, reflections and interactions of the learner. I say learner because the learner is not only the students in this case, but the teacher too. In this case you must use the cyclic learning system where “Teachers should be students; students should be teachers,” (Lee, 2014).In order to get the most out of project based learning, the teacher (educator or parent) must use a hands on approach to facilitate the learning process. Through this hands on approach the students have something tangible to learn from and through. Therefore, producing concrete results to prove learning taking place. Real comprehension occurred rather than the “learning” of abstract theories. Project based education “leads out” because it teaches our students HOW to think rather than WHAT to think. When you look at the current day job market and our children’s future, it is far more essential to teach our children to be critical thinkers by nurturing their curiosity rather than creating walking information containers. 

3. Establish a Hands on Learning Environment 
True project based learning uses the hands on project to facilitate the learning process.  Peers and instructors interact to complete the project. The learning process and relevant content is directly related in tangible ways.  This makes the lessons content (often abstract theory and concepts) concrete. This is essential. Then long term learning and comprehension has a better chance of occurring. Hands on learning is also fantastic because it gives the teachers and the student’s flexibility to teach and learn interactively. Hands on learning doesn’t necessarily mean you make a volcano when you are learning about chemical reactions. You do not need to do that to create learning (although you SHOULD). It means you create a dialogue with your students and you explore real world examples of how the chemical reactions take place and what the outcomes can be. This can be done through actual science experiments where bases and acids are mixed to create a reaction, or it can be done through the students creating their own possible chemical reaction recipes. Again its hands on, because it involves FULL student and teacher participation and dialogue.

4. Use Textbooks as a Resource ONLY 
As many teachers can tell you, lecturing out of a book is not real teaching. When you make the teaching an active interaction between the students and the teachers, you have enthusiastic teachers and students.  Teachers love to see their students learn and comprehend. Which encourages them to create and teach more effectively.  When the learning being conducted is students centered, the students have a voice in choosing or guiding their learning.  Student centered learning empowers students to want to learn by nurturing their natural curiosity and engaging the teacher, rather than learning a textbook. Don’t get it wrong, textbooks are important in a classroom. Even through project based learning, a textbook is a great resource to have if you need to look something up or do more reading and research on a topic. But for project based learning to be truly successful a teacher cannot teach from a book. They must engage the students through interactions.

5. Make Learning Fun

Every teacher knows that they must teach certain subjects every year, because of the requirements by the school, the districts and Common CORE standards. But, as educators we all know that teaching children to test well by drilling them with information is not helping children comprehend information, which would indicate long term retention of the knowledge. Rather it means teaching children to utilize their long term memory to remember standardized material. This is not fun. It’s not fun for the teacher and it’s certainly not fun for the students. To make the learning fun it is essential to understand your student’s needs. The Common Core standards can still be met through student center, hands-on learning. When learning is fun, concepts are retained and can be built upon, with less “refresher” or review times. So you want to solve the problem of all this wasted time reviewing concepts over and over again… well make learning FUN.

6. Don’t Get Ahead of Yourself 
This is a big one. The initial steps of project based learning can be boring. Oh yes, I said the word that all educators hate to hear. Why? Because when they hear that word they know learning is not taking place. So what do you to make project based learning less boring? You don’t get ahead of yourself. Just jump in. Teachers need to understand that though they know how the project will progress their students do NOT. So if the first few steps are boring, students lose interest. This can be avoided by getting students involved from the start.  Ask them what they want to do.  Let them choose the project.  The teacher then facilitates the project by fortifying it with appropriate lessons and activities using the approved curriculum. Don’t extend it. Get through it and then the project can get started with the fun stuff. If you need to review concepts, that’s fine! Ask the students questions to “lead out” from them what they may know or might think about a relevant aspect of the project related to that concept. This actively engages the children are in the learning process. When they are engaged they listen and comprehend what you say! Which means they are learning actively.They want to learn because of their natural curiosity. And while you facilitate their learning you get caught up in it too. So guess what, don’t get ahead of yourself.

7. Do Not Create a Multiple Topic Jumble 
Another issue with project based learning is that each project can connect to tons of other subjects creating an interdisciplinary subject jumble that can be chaotic for the teacher.  This can overwhelm all the concepts, making it confusing for your students and create a situation where the learning becomes stagnant.  This is counterproductive. You can make those connections. But, you need to let the students learn to connect the dot themselves. Let the children explore and discover connections by asking questions. Use their curiosity to determine which topic subject matter they dabble into next, because believe me, they will find those interdisciplinary links and lead you to them. So step back, guide facilitate their learning and watch where they take you and themselves!  Ask leading questions to stimulate their thinking, reflection, and introspection.

If you are a parent or a professional educator, you can make learning fun! This is best part of project-based learning? When it’s FUN for everyone. This means that, everyone can will enjoy the learning process. The students will feed off your enthusiasm and this will greatly enhance their learning and your love of teaching.